Visible index card tray



April 19, 1932.

R. A. FURLONG VISIBLE INDEX CARD TRAY Filed Nov. 26, 1929 INVENTORRoland/11 M101:

BY m7 5 8 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 19,1932

UNITED STATES ROLAND A. FURLONG, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THEYAWMAN &

PATENT OFFICE ERBE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NIEHV YORK, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK v VISIBLE INDEX CARD TRAY Application filedNovember 26,.1929. Serial Nd. 409,774.

This invention relates to an improved card tray and card holder forvisible indexsystems. The principal object of the invention is to mounta card holder in a tray by means which permit lateral shifting of a cardwith the holder in one direction while maintaining positive engagementof the holder with the tray and'lateral shifting of the holder in theopposite directionpreparatory to its removal from the tray. A furtherobject is to provide means for retaining the holder releasably in itsnormal position. a

A further object of the invention is to provide yielding means ofimproved construction in direct association with the tray forcooperation with the holders tomaintain them yieldingly in their desiredposition and assist to a degree in their removal from the tray.

A more general object is to improve the construction of card holders insuch manner that they shall be rigid in form, simple in con struction,cheap to manufacture and convenient to manipulate. This same generalobject also pertains to the tray structure in respect of the yieldingelements which cooperate with the card holders.

Reference is now to be had to the accompanying drawings for a detaileddescription'of the preferred embodiment of the invention, inwhich: a

Figure 1 is a view in "plan of a card tray embodying the improvements,some of the card holders being removed therefrom to show the dispositionof the springs at the bottom of the tray. 7

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detailed view in plan and on a somewhat largerscale showing a few card holders mountedin the tray,

as moved to the left to one of which is offset to the right in positionto offset its card while another is shown permit its removal from thetray. 7 I

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section through the tray on the planeindicated by the lines 3-3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction-ofthe arrows showing a holder in median position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showlng the holder moved tothe right to oftsetacardt, a a

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the holder moved tothe left to permit its removal from the tray.

Figure G i s a detailed view in longitudinal section through the trayshowing the construction ofthe spring means and taken on the planeindicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

In the type of tray in which the present improvements will be found mostuseful it is intended that the card holders shall fill the tray and notbe movable longitudinally of the tray. Figure 1 illustrates such a trayat a to be filled completely with a series of card holders Z2 normallyretained in place by overhanging flanges a, (1 at opposite sides of thetray, the flange a in accordance with the present improvements being ofgreater width than the flange a at the right. The length of each holderillustrated clearly in Fi ure 3 with reference to the overall width ofthe tray is such that it can be slid to the right or to the left. Tofacilitate such movement when and as required it maybe convenient toprovide each holder .with a notch b or dimple or the like for theinsertion of a tool or the thumb nail. Further, for convenience inmaintaining each holder in its median or normal position it may bedesirable to, provide it at each end with a notch b or dim.- ple or theequivalent engageable with a corresponding protrusion a formed on thereverse faces of the flanges 0/,00 of the tray. In the illustratedembodiment such a detent is shown as formed conveniently and inexa, thisflange being of such width as to prevent such; a disengagement. Thisrelationship permits the offsetting of a card without the possibility ofdisplacement of the holder and the convenient return subsequently of theholder to its normal median position. The flange a on the contrary,having in mind the length of the holder 7; is not of sufiicient width toprevent the disengagement of the right-hand end of the holder when thelatter ismoved to the left as shown in Figure 5. On the contrary, when aholder is to be removed from the tray it is slid to the position shownin Figure 5 so'that one' end is exposed and it'may'readily be withdrawn.

The preferred form of holder is made as a simple stamping of symmetricaloutline. By forming up the portions of the holder adjacent the notches bat its opposite ends, slots 6 can be left under which the enlargedhinges m of a card 3 can be engaged while the hinge itself extendsthrough said slots. This aifords a very convenient method of mountingand dismounting the cards on the holders simply by buckling the cardsmomentarily in their center to reduce the space between the hinges untilthey can he slid under the slots 72 whereupon the card expands to itsnormal fiat shape and the hinges become engaged with the holder.

With the construction'described it is desirable to subject the holdersto spring pressure-so that they will be retained more effectively withinthe tray against accidental displacement, rattling and looseness. In theimproved construction such spring means are formed separately. andsecured in the bottom of the tray. One simple and inexpensive springelement is illustrated. As shown in Figure flat sheet of metal 03 isreversely bent along its opposite edges, forming overlying flangesindicated at cZ,d On the main under section of the stripa series ofsprings d are struck up at intervals, two rows of such spring leaves instaggered relationship being preferablyprovided at each side in linewiththe two overlying flanges 61, d respectively. As illustrated inFigure 1 by staggering the spring leavesd in two rows, at each siderespectively, the leaves are aligned in pairs transversely of the tray.To expose the leaves tothe card holders it is necessary to punch slotsin the flanges d, 0Z in line with the respective leaves, the slots beingillustrated at (Z The result is that every bar in the tray is sure to besubjected to the action of at least two of the springs d as appearsclearly in Figure 2. The springs urge thebars upwardly into intimateengagement with the overhanging'side flanges a a of-the' tray, andprevents their accidental movement. 'VVhen a holder is moved to the leftasshown in Figure 5' the springs'near its right end thrust it upwards sothat when theend-is disengaged from the'flange a the bar-is presentedconveniently for withdrawal. The spring sheetd can be convenientlywelded to the bottom-of the tray-as'a separate operation.

- The invention is not to be limited to the materials employed nor tothe form and size of the elements necessary for the attainment of theobjects set forth.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with the tray of a visible index, arigid, card holdermounted transversely within the tray,"flanges of unequal width carriedby the tray and overlying the opposite ends of the card holder, saidcard holder being retained positively by said flanges when moved in onedirection but Edisengageable from the flanges when moved in the oppositedirection, and means to position the holderyieldinglyin its normalmedian position in the tray.

'2. In a visible index tray having a plurality of card holders-slidablyheld therein, a spring sheet secured inthe bottom thereof and having aplurality of spring leaves struck up therefrom for engagement by-thecard holders to resist, yieldi-ngly, sliding thereof.

3. Ina visible index tray, asprin sheet formed at opposite edges withoverlying reversely bent flanges having a plurality of openings therein,a pluralityof spring leaves struck up from the lower mainsection of thespring sheet and protrudingthrough the respective openings forengagement withthe card holders.

4. In-a visible indextray, a'spring sheet formed at oppositeedgeswithoverlyi-ng revers'elybentflanges-having a plurality of openingstherein, a plurality of springleaves struck up from thelowerma-insectionof the spring sheet and protruding through therespective'openings for engagement with the card-holders, said springdeaves being-arranged in rows extending longitudinally. of the tray butstaggered -.with respect to oneanother.

5. In-avisible index tray a-rigid-card holder -mounted transverselywithin the tray and displaceable laterally thereof in both directionsfrom a median position, means toretain the holder within the-tray whenin median position andwhen in one extreme'po sition of displacement,'and to --r;elease the holder from the tray when in the otherextremevposition of displacement.

'6. In visible -index-tray,-a *rigi'd card holder mountedtransversely-within the tray and d-isplaceablelaterally thereof in bothdi- 'rcc'tions from a median position, means to retain the holder withinthe tray when in median positionand-when inone extreme position ofdisplacement, and to -release the holder from' the tray when in theother extreme position of displacement, and spring means carried -with'the' tray and coacting with the holder to-resistsaidlateraldisplacement.

7.: In a visible index: tray, rigid card-{holders mounted transversely-wi thin the tray,

each individual card holder being displaoeable laterally thereof in bothdirections from a medianposition,means to retain each holder within thetray when in median position and when in one extreme position ofdisplacement, and to release each holder from the tray when in the otherextreme position of displacement, and a series of springs disposedlongitudinally of the bottom of the tray and engaging the underside ofthe holders to hold them yieldingly against such lateral displacement.

This specification signed this 21st day of November, A. D. 1929.

ROLAND A. FURLONG.

